Mobile "4 Wheelin" Walkers

CPSC Recall #00-157 — August 7, 2000

Recall Summary

Recall Number00-157
Recall DateAugust 7, 2000
Remedy TypeDispose, Replace
Units AffectedAbout 170,000
Manufactured InUnited States

Where It Was Sold

Mass merchandise
juvenile products and major discount department stores nationwide sold the walkers from April 1998 through April 1999 for about $50.

Product

Mobile "4 Wheelin" Walkers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Safety 1st Inc., of Canton, Mass., is voluntarily recalling to repair about 170,000 Mobile "4 Wheelin" Walkers, which are shaped like cars. Babies can lose their lower teeth when the teeth are caught in parts of the three-spoke steering wheels. Also, on some of these walkers, the telephone could break apart, releasing small parts and posing a choking hazard. Safety 1st has received eight reports of babies catching their teeth in parts of the three-spoke steering wheels. Six babies lost lower front teeth. There also are 44 reports of the telephone button loosening. One 6-month-old baby girl gagged on a telephone button from a phone that came apart. The Mobile "4 Wheelin" Walker is intended for babies 6 months old until the age they begin to walk. The walker has a green body, and includes a three-spoke steering wheel with squeaking horn, clicking keys, two rearview mirrors and a phone with electronic ring. Model number 45701, 45701A or 45701B is written underneath the walker tray. Only walkers with these model numbers are part of the recall. Other writing under the body includes, "Made in the U.S.A., (1997," and "Safety 1st, Inc." Mass merchandise, juvenile products and major discount department stores nationwide sold the walkers from April 1998 through April 1999 for about $50. Consumers should stop using these walkers immediately, and contact Safety 1st. Repair kit no longer available. New cash incentive is being offered or replacement product. Do not use these products. Please discard or destroy these products. To contact Safety 1st, call (800) 964-8489 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or write to Consumer Relations Dept., Safety 1st Inc., 45 Dan Road, Canton, MA 02021. This recall does not include walkers with model number 45701C, 45701D, 45704 or 45705. These models have different steering wheel and phone designs.

Hazard

Babies can lose their lower teeth when the teeth are caught in parts of the three-spoke steering wheels. Also, on some of these walkers, the telephone could break apart, releasing small parts and posing a choking hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

Safety 1st has received eight reports of babies catching their teeth in parts of the three-spoke steering wheels. Six babies lost lower front teeth. There also are 44 reports of the telephone button loosening. One 6-month-old baby girl gagged on a telephone button from a phone that came apart.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these walkers immediately, and contact Safety 1st. Repair kit no longer available. New cash incentive is being offered or replacement product. Do not use these products. Please discard or destroy these products. 

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Dispose, Replace) at no cost to you.

Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside — if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.